On 10/26/13, the Benton Police Department was notified by the Arkansas State Police that an officer with our agency was allegedly involved in an off-duty incident they were investigating. The officer in question, Lt. Monte Hodge, was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

An internal investigation was immediately launched into this allegation and we’ve worked closely with investigators throughout the entire ordeal. The internal investigation is still on-going at this time.

Lt. Hodge has been with the Benton Police Department for over 18 years and was assigned to the patrol division until Oct. 26th. We respectively refer all questions regarding the investigation to the Arkansas State Police or Special Prosecutor Chuck Graham, the Lonoke County Prosecutor.